Camping Statistics 2026 – USA & North America

Camping continues to grow as a popular outdoor activity worldwide. More people are participating in different forms of camping, exploring various accommodation options, and adopting new travel patterns. To cater to these evolving preferences, campgrounds are expanding their services to include RV camping, glamping, and eco-friendly options.

These changes are evident in the latest camping statistics and trends in North America.

• 52.16 million North American households camped in 2025, almost unchanged from 2024.
• Over 87.99 million North American campers participated in camping in 2023.
• Nearly 50% of campers are now Millennials and Gen Zers.
• One-third of first-time campers in 2023 were aged between 18 and 34.
• Camping participation has increased by 23% since 2014.¹
• RV ownership has nearly doubled since 2014.²
• 32% of all campers tried glamping for the first time in 2023.²
• Winter camping is becoming more popular, with a 28% participation rate in 2023/2024.
• Shoulder season camping (fall and spring) has increased by 21% since 2021.

• Campers typically take 1-3 camping trips annually, spending an average of 6.7 nights per year.

Nearly half of all campers are under 35 years old, an increase compared to 30% in 2014.¹

• Generational Split: Among new campers in 2023, 21% were Gen Z, 28% were Millennials, 22% were Gen X, and 29% were Baby Boomers or the Silent Generation.²
• 2025 Split: Across all campers in 2025, 13% were Gen Z, 29% Millennials, 29% Gen X, 28% Baby Boomers and 1% the Silent Generation — Boomers' highest share since 2015, and a quarter of new campers were Boomers.⁵

Over 26.88 million campers chose tent camping in 2023.

Although it remains the most popular type of accommodation, tent camping now accounts for less than 50% of all camping households, as more people choose cabins and glamping.

• Cabins and Glamping: These options have seen the largest increase in popularity, with over 15.74 million campers choosing them in 2023.
• 2025 Preferences: Tents accounted for 47% of camping households in 2025, RVs 19% and cabins or glamping 29% — glamping's highest share yet, with over 15 million households glamping that year.⁵

• New Campers: Among new campers in 2023, 44% tried glamping, compared to 32% of all campers.
• Glamping in 2025: Glamping accounted for 2.09 million new campers in 2025, down from 2.95 million in 2024, and 31% of new campers identified themselves as glampers.

• Natural Events: 56% of new campers in 2023 used camping as an opportunity to experience natural events like eclipses.⁶
• Food Tourism: 31% of campers planned to include food tourism in their 2024 trips¹, after 35% of new campers (and 24% of experienced campers) did so in 2023.
• Popular activities during camping included:
  • 43% of campers enjoyed sitting around a campfire.
  • 41% went fishing.
  • 39% went hiking.
  • 29% participated in bird watching and stargazing.

Blended Travel

• 92% of campers combined camping with other forms of travel in 2023, such as visiting family or friends (78%), staying at hotels or resorts (67%), and hunting or fishing camps (61%).

Road Trips

• Camping was included in 76% of road trips in 2023, reflecting the growing popularity of combining road travel with outdoor adventures.

Winter Camping

28% of active campers tried winter camping in 2023/2024, up from 17% in the previous year⁶​.

• Shoulder Season Camping: Camping during the fall and spring has increased by 21% since 2021, while peak season camping declined by 4%.
• Winter RV Camping: 79% of winter campers used RVs.

Technology plays an increasingly important role in enhancing camping experiences.

• Wi-Fi as an Amenity: In 2023, 48% of campers considered Wi-Fi the most important amenity when choosing a campground.
• Booking Platforms: 59.2% of private camping properties used booking platforms like The Dyrt to manage reservations.
• Booking Challenges: 45.5% of campers reported difficulty booking campsites due to sold-out campgrounds in 2023, down from 58.4% in 2022⁴. This improvement may be due to increased campground capacities and better reservation systems.

The Dyrt offers detailed insights into campers' preferences and camping destinations in the U.S.

How popular is camping in the U.S.?

• 1 in 4 Americans camped in 2023, showing the increasing popularity of camping.
• 4 out of 5 U.S. adults have camped at least once in their life, and 2 out of 3 say they are interested in camping in the next three years.

What types of camping are most popular in the U.S.?

• 46.8% of campers listed RV or trailer camping as their primary type of camping in 2023.⁴
• 31.4% of campers preferred tent camping, followed by 7.5% who chose camper vans, and 3.9% truck camping.
• 9% of campers experienced glamping, with 42% of them trying it for the first time.

Who are the primary campers in the U.S.?

A large proportion of first-time campers in 2023 were between the ages of 18 and 34, reflecting a rise in younger participants.

• Campers aged 65 and older made up 29.1% of the camping population, up 4.9% compared to the previous year.

Baby Boomer - Born 1946-1964

Camping - Any occasion when you spent at least one night outside of your primary residence and stayed in accommodations such as a tent, trailer, RV, or vehicle or cabin/cottage at a campground.

Car camping - Those who travel and sleep in their vehicles (versus other types of accommodation, including RVs).

Camping households - Those who identify as campers.

Dispersed Camping - The term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest outside of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services such as trash removal, and little or no facilities which may or may not include tables and firepits.

Generation X (Gen X) - Born 1965-1980

Generation Z (Gen Z) - Born 1997-2012

Glamping - Defined as staying in unique accommodations with enhanced services and amenities.

Incidence - For camping incidence, this figure is calculated by dividing the total number of households with at least one person who camps divided by the total number of eligible households.

Millennial - Born 1981-1996

Overlanding - An "overlanding" experience is where you travel in an off-road vehicle, taking back roads, no services/amenities, you are completely self-sustaining and the purpose is the journey.

Peer-to-Peer RV Rental - A rental that occurs between a private RV owner and a renter. Generally, this is facilitated by a designated marketplace.

Public Land Camping - Staying at a public campground in a national park, state park, municipal campground, national forest campground, national forest land, BLM land, or designated wilderness areas.

RV - Includes type A, B, or C motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheels, pick-up campers, pop-up trailers, and small van campers.

RVing Experience (used in new camping experiences) - Where you travel in an RV from destination to destination.

Silent/Mature - Born prior to 1946

Van Life - Defined as a form of adventure tourism that involves a van that is livable and self-sustained.